Guide to Israel Schools

Tomer Devora—S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program

Accommodations

Living Quarters
Each room will house 4 students, and there are 3 rooms to each suite. Each suite will have full kitchen, laundry, computer, and internet facility. Students may choose their own roommates and are living in the same building as the children and Israeli sherut Leumi women. They have 4 computers in the common room with internet access.

Availability of Private Kitchen Facilities
Each suite has a full kitchen facility, with a stove, refrigerator, microwave, and dishes.

Facility use during Shabbat and Yom Tov
The dorm is always open - Shabbat food is available.

Curfew
Curfew is 11:45pm nightly and 12:45 am on Motzai Shabbat. Girls must leave information and phone numbers with the madricha where they will be for Shabbat .

Security Arrangements
Midreshet AMIT @ Beit Hayeled is secured by a close circuit security camera and a 24 hour armed guard. All our trips will be in concert with Tzahal approval.

Accrediting Universities

Midreshet AMIT is a Yeshiva University S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program School.

Additional Information

Curriculum

Makeup
Our curriculum is designed to accomplish the following goals: to teach the “it,” not the “about it” and to challenge the student to develop independent thinking (rather than just “going with the flow”). In light of that, our morning classes have a Beit Midrash component where each student, on her own level, learns how to read, translate and analyze the text. We also encourage dialogue with students rather than a frontal lecture. Subjects taught in the morning are Talmud, Tanach, and Halacha. In the afternoon, we deal with philosophical, ethical, and moral issues and encourage participation of each individual student. In the evening, we have Rabbeim and Mechanchot who learn on a more personal basis with the students.

Daily Schedule
Our morning begins with Tefilla and breakfast, followed by morning seder. Morning classes are from 9am-1pm. We have a lunch break/Mincha from 1-3pm. From 3-6pm, there is an afternoon program, which combines learning with chessed with the Beit HaYeled children. From 6-8:30pm, there is dinner and personal time. Night Seder is from 8:30-10pm four nights a week, with Monday night free.

Language of Instruction
Most of the classes are in English; however it is recommended that the student has some background in Hebrew to facilitate communication with the Beit Hayeled children and families.
Ulpan or Hebrew Class

Assessment and Grading
Attendance is mandatory and will be monitored. Grades will be assigned on basis of attendance ,participation, reviews, growth in skills, projects,and papers.
Shana Bet
We currently do not have a Shana Bet Program.
Joint Program

Eligibility

Level of Learning Offered
Intermediate-Advanced

Hebrew Knowledge Required
Shiurim are in English.

Religious Observance Required
An orthodox woman who exhibits a positive attitude towards her shemirat Torah U 'Mitzvot and who is actively seeking growth in learning.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Interaction with Israelis
As part of the AMIT network of schools we will visit different communities and schools which reflect Israeli society. Daily our students will have the good fortune of serving as big sisters to the children at Beit Hayeled. Additionally the opportunity exists to interface with and establish evening chevrutot with the Bnot Sherut Leumi who are serving at Beit Hayeled.

Special Informal programs
We offer special seminar topics relating to Israel, life on the college campus, modern halachik problems, combating anti Semitism and other pertinent issues that reflect the character of the emerging modern Jewish woman. Our students will be exposed to Rabbanim, female scholars, and talent from abroad. It is our hope to present a broad spectrum of people who will engage the mind and heart of our students. Our program is enhanced by special celebrations on Rosh Chodesh, Chagim, Yom Ha’atzmaut, and Yom Yerushalayim. Our staff includes program coordinators who plan meaningful and relevant activities.

Sports Facilities
On premises there is a basketball court, and locally there is a swimming pool as well as gym.

Programming for Shabbat and Yom Tov
Monthly shabbatonim will be held on campus and at satellite locations as we visit different cities and schools that are part of the AMIT network. Our dorm is always open and as such, students may have guests and always feel the comfort of their home. Home hospitality will always be available from faculty and AMIT friends.

Field Trips
Monthly we will go on tiyulim that help us connect to the places where Tanach events unfolded. Three times during the year we will feature a major overnight tiyul to the different regions.

Hashkafa

Goal of Program
Midreshet AMIT @ Beit Hayeled seeks to imbue in its participants a love of Torah, deep- rooted Yirat Shamayim, pride in Medinat Yisrael and a genuine desire to contribute to Am Yisrael via traditional learning combined with volunteering at Beit Hayeled. It is through maintaining a very delicate balance between learning and doing that one can achieve great heights and become the leaders of tomorrow.

Attitude towards Israel and Medinat Yisrael
Midreshet AMIT @ Beit Hayeled is part of the network of AMIT schools and is founded upon the ideals of Tzionut. Both formal and informal learning allow a student to absorb the Zionist spirit as our year is highlighted with the celebration and commemoration of Yom Hashoa, Yom Hazikaron, Yom Haatzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim.
Attitude towards University Studies
Our students will be encouraged to broaden their horizons by pursuing a university education. Torah is enhanced by an understanding of the wonderful world that God created, and ones personality can develop fully with a synthesis of Torah and secular knowledge. We will encourage our students to be “kovea itim laTorah" and as such find a campus where opportunities for learning can coexist with opportunities for higher education.

Attitude towards Extracurricular Activities
An integral part of the program at Midreshet AMIT @ Beit Hayeled is serving as a big sister mentor to children at Beit Hayeled. Different times have been scheduled during the week so as to maximize the opportunity to spend time with your little sister or brother within a framework of classes and Beit Midrash learning. There are additional opportunities available to the girls as they live on campus at Beit Hayeled and as such can elect to spend their free time volunteering.
Preparation for Post Israel
Midreshet AMIT will sponsor periodic seminars dealing with religious issues confronted on the college campus. The goal of these programs is to fortify the student with a strong Torah background that also encompasses a respect for the secular world. Additionally, in conjunction with The David Project, attention will be given to the anti Israel and Anti-Semitic environment that a student may encounter on the campus.

The "Successful" Student
A successful alumna will take her place in the world ready to meet challenges and exhibit leadership fortified by her study of Torah and possessing a synthesis of secular knowledge and respect for the universe created by God. She will embrace her chosen profession with a sense of professionalism and extraordinary competence coupled with the humility of knowing that she is a shaliach of Hashem. She will maintain a lifetime relationship with Medinat Yisrael.

Dress
A student is expected to dress in a manner befitting a serious attitude towards limud hatorah

Guidance Personnel
A warm and close relationship between faculty and students is encouraged and orchestrated daily. We create classes that facilitate discussion between student and teacher as well as promote a feeling that your Rav, mechanechet, and teachers’ home is your “bayit cham “which you visit monthly.

Supervision
Attendance is taken daily and the students are required to sign out whenever they are not sleeping in the dorm so we always know where a student is and can be reached in case of an emergency. In addition, we have a ratio of one madricha to each group of fifteen girls. There are eleven families living in Beit HaYeled whom the girls can go to in case of need. There is a curfew 11:45pm weekdays and 12:45am on Motzei Shabbat. There are mechanchot available to the students to shmooze, work through the challenges, and provide gentle guidance and supervision. We have a guard in the building 24-7.

History

Midreshet AMIT @ Beit Hayeled was founded to foster interactive Beit Medrash learning within which a community of learners may grow spiritually and intellectually and develop ones personal connection to Medinat Yisrael. This unique and innovative program allows young women the opportunity to purse a serious and meaningful learning experience while residing at Beit Hayeled and interfacing with the children of Beit Hayeled in a volunteer big sister capacity.

Population

Type of American Student
We currently have 28 young women from all over the US and England.

Overall Number of Students (Kollel, Israeli, Foreign)
30-40

Foreign Student Percentage
28%

Number of 1st Year American Students
28

Number of 2nd Year American Students
N/A

Other Nationalities
British

Number of Students per Class
Class size ranges from 4-28. Students register for their classes of choice and therefore class size spans the range.

Staff

Director: Mrs. Ilana Gottlieb
Rosh Midrasha: Rav Morrie Wruble

Faculty reflects a broad spectrum having been educated at many different Torah institutions and universities. For a complete listing of our current faculty, please consult our website.